Devoted 89-year-old fundraiser takes to the skies once again for charity

For more than 20 years, 89-year old John Wilkins has dedicated thousands of hours to raising money for Bristol Children’s Hospital, The Grand Appeal.

On Sunday, 20 September his latest fundraising escapade saw him take to the skies for a charity wing walk. The stunt had been due to take place on John’s 89th birthday in April but was postponed due to the pandemic, while he was shielding.

The belated birthday celebrations are the latest in a raft of adventurous fundraising activities John has undertaken, from abseils and zipwires to skydives and wing walks. His daredevil antics have helped to raise over £350,000 for the charity to support sick babies and children across the South West and South Wales.

The former paratrooper also set up the charity’s parachute in the late 90’s and has encouraged over 550 people to join him in the skies over the years. In addition to his more extreme fundraising activities, John has also spent the last 19 years running a charity stall in the foyer of Bristol Children’s Hospital.

John Wilkins commented: “After a strange few months, It has been great to be able to take to the skies again and start fundraising for this amazing charity again.

“It’s been a honour to work so closely with the charity over the years and I hope to inspire more people to try something a bit different to help raise money for The Grand Appeal, a charity that despite the challenges of the pandemic, has continued to provide incredible services to support the patients, families and staff at the children’s hospital.”

Steph Benson, community fundraiser, Wallace and Gromit’s Grand Appeal commented: “It is incredible to see John’s continued dedication to raising money for the charity and we really enjoyed sharing his belated-birthday celebrations with him in true adrenaline-fuelled style.

“Our charity skydives and wing walks are the first in-person fundraising events we’ve been able to host since lockdown so we’re incredibly grateful to all our fundraisers who are taking to the skies this weekend.”

As the Bristol Children’s Hospital charity, The Grand Appeal funds life-saving medical equipment, three family accommodation houses, 20 specialist support staff and a programme of art, music and play in partnership with the hospital and its Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at St Michael’s Hospital.

Throughout lockdown, the charity has continued to provide its services to support the staff, families and patients despite the coronavirus pandemic. These vital services have included keeping parents close to their children in hospital in family accommodation, while alternative accommodation has been closed – and providing the funding for ground-breaking research into the natural history of Covid-19.

To support John as he takes to the skies please visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/rachel-ferris9?utm_source=Sharethis&utm_medium=fundraising&utm_content=rachel-ferris9&utm_campaign=pfp-email&utm_term=be783fd7d84d486b9280c620c8ca1746.

For more information on Wallace & Gromit’s Grand Appeal visit www.grandappeal.org.uk.